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Media Sociology

Working area 7

Campus der Universität Bielefeld
© Fakultät für Soziologie

Media Sociology

How do media as infrastructures of communication and networking influence the social structures of a society? How are they challenged, changed or stabilised in the context of media upheavals? How do media as carriers of symbolically mediated communication shape the possibilities of perception and cultural interpretation of reality? Conversely, which ideas and experiences of social-structural order or which world views and culture-specific experiences of reality manifest themselves in the development and social use of media technologies?

These are fundamental questions that the working area of media sociology deals with.

Starting from a broad concept of media - which in principle includes all carriers of symbolically mediated communication - we investigate the interactions between technological and social development in a long-term perspective. Our research and teaching activities concentrate on the empirical analysis of media-related transformation processes of culture and society, their methodological reflection, as well as the empirically founded theory formation for the description of techno-socialities and media cultures in world society. The Bielefeld Sociology of Media is therefore not a special sociology in the sense that it would deal with media as a special segment or functional area of society. Rather, it sees itself as a "hyphenated sociology" in the sense that it seeks knowledge-promoting connections with other special sociologies when observing social phenomena and their cultural interpretation. At the same time, it is a General Sociology, insofar as it is not limited to a specific subject area, but understands media as conditions for the constitution of society.

In this context, the social situation, which, following Erving Goffman, is understood as a micro-unit of socialisation, offers a central starting point for the empirical research of the working area. The social situation is interesting in terms of media sociology not only in its own right, but also in its interfaces and transfers between orders of interaction and social macrostructures. For example, one can ask in what way media structure, modify or even create social situations. Moreover, it is worthwhile to examine how media link locally situated interactions translocally or intersituatively and make them available supra-situatively and how this affects the relationship between presence and representation. The mediatisation of social situations and its consequences for social order can be examined in the most diverse social fields, from intimate relationships to world politics. Thus, with a view to digital media, the differentiation of situation-adequate modes of presence and the adaptation of presence norms and routines could be examined equally in the family, at school or at work. Who has which obligations or possibilities to be (not) present in which situations and in which form? Following on from this, it would also be interesting to ask how participation opportunities are related to presence expectations and opportunities. Do (digital) media and the orders of presence reconfigured with them help to reduce existing social inequalities, do they tend to consolidate them or even reinforce them?

The current focus of research can be found here. You can find out more about the teaching profile of the working area here.


Workshop

Exploring and Employing Autoethnographic Positioning Analysis

Bielefeld, 18-19 September 2025

We are pleased to invite early-career researchers to submit their work for an upcoming workshop on Autoethnographic Positioning Analysis. This workshop builds upon insights from the recent special issue of Qualitative Inquiry titled Positioning Analysis with Autoethnography: Epistemic Explorations of Self-Reflexivity (edited by Heike Greschke, 2024). Drawing on insights and methodologies from this special issue, the workshop offers participants a space to explore, develop and apply autoeth- nographic positioning approaches and analyses to their own work.

Autoethnography, a qualitative research approach that merges personal narrative with cultural anal- ysis, has gained significant recognition, including through esteemed publications such as the Journal of Autoethnography (University of California Press). It encompasses diverse methodologies, including evocative, collaborative, performative, analytical, critical, and decolonizing perspectives, each providing unique insights into social relations and phenomena. This workshop builds on these approaches and enhances their analytical potential through a positioning-analytical perspective. Drawing on Rom Harré and Luk van Langenhove's (1999) concept of social positioning, this ap- proach emphasizes the mutuality of self and others, revealing how roles and identities are negoti-ated within ethnographic settings. By systematically analyzing positioning, we aim to deepen un-derstanding of the interplay between researchers and participants, reflecting broader societal norms and power structures. Positioning analysis thus extends beyond reflexivity, as it addresses relational intricacies and invective elements inherent in ethnographic interactions, as articulated during the “ethnographic crisis” (Clifford 1983, Clifford/Marcus 1986). By focusing on these dynamics, the workshop seeks to enhance methodological practices, exploring how personal narratives intersect with broader cultural and societal frameworks.

This workshop embraces a cooperative working atmosphere where participants motivate each other and bring diverse perspectives to both data analysis and conceptualization. We invite contri-butions from all interested individuals across three focus areas:

Focus Area 1: Developing Emerging Ideas

This focus area welcomes all those interested in learning about autoethnographic positioning anal-ysis. Participants will have the opportunity to explore foundational concepts and share initial pro-ject ideas. Please outline your research project idea and motivations for attending the workshop in a brief statement of up to 300 words.

Focus Area 2: Applying New Approaches

This focus area is ideal for anyone looking to apply new methodologies to their data. We offer acollaborative space to experiment and innovate. Please provide a one to two-page abstract, includ-ing details about your data type, field characteristics, and research interests or topics.

Focus Area 3: Exploring Established Practices

Participants interested in discussing advanced questions in autoethnography or positioning analysis are invited to share their insights and experiences. Key topics include:• Deepening understanding of relational dynamics in ethnographic research.

• Examining the interplay between researchers and participants in ethnographic settings.

• Engaging critically with positioning processes in research.

Please submit a one to two-page abstract, detailing your work and ideas related to these aspects.

We welcome submissions in both English and German. We particularly encourage participation from individuals who have either collected their data or are just starting their research project and who wish to employ autoethnographic positioning analysis in their work.

Participation in the workshop is free of charge. The event is jointly organized by the team from the Chair of Media Sociology at Bielefeld University (Prof. Heike Greschke) and the Chair of Sociology of the Body at Mainz University (Jr. Prof. Tobias Boll), and the Bielefeld Graduate School in His-tory and Sociology. We welcome participants from diverse academic backgrounds to join us in exploring the potential of analyzing positioning processes in ethnographic work and fostering a supportive environment where wide-ranging perspectives enrich our understanding of the approach.

Please submit your abstracts by April 15th 2025 to Mei-Chen Spiegelberg (she/her) mei-chen.spie-gelberg@uni-bielefeld.de. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact her as well.

We look forward to your application.

References

Clifford, James (1983): On Ethnographic Authority. In: Representations 2, pp. 118–46.

Clifford, James; Marcus, George (Eds.) (1986): Writing Culture. The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography.

Berkeley/Los Angeles: University of California Press.

Greschke, Heike (2024): “Positioning” Analysis With Autoethnography—Epistemic Explorations of Self-

Reflexivity: Introduction to the Special Issue. In: Qualitative Inquiry 30 (8-9), pp. 659–662. DOI:

10.1177/10778004231193762.

Harré, Rom; van Langenhove, Luk (Eds.) (1999): Positioning Theory: Moral Contexts of Intentional Action.

Oxford: Blackwell.

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